York City Council spent more than £700,000 trying to combat last autumn's great floods.

A Parliamentary written answer has revealed the size of the compensation claim made by finance bosses.

Countryside Minister Elliot Morley said the costs had been incurred responding to flood emergencies.

He has agreed to refund a total of £708,060 to the council.

The written answer revealed York is the only North Yorkshire council to receive any money under the scheme so far.

However, Mr Morley said he did expect to receive claims from other local authorities.

Council planners were forced to take emergency action when floods swept through the county last year.

Hundreds of properties were left under water -- but many more escaped thanks to the drastic action which was taken.

Sandbags were widely distributed and emergency pumping took place.

Last month an Environment Agency report called for the Government to make

available millions of pounds of extra funding to prevent a repeat of the catastrophe.

A further report on the flooding in North Yorkshire is due to be published next Thursday.

Updated: 11:28 Tuesday, April 03, 2001